Children

For beginners, I use the "Piano Safari" method. This is an exciting, brand new method that instills the basics of piano playing in students while creating a fun context. When I began teaching, I was dissatisfied with most beginning piano methods. Too many of them focused too heavily on immediately learning to read the complicated music notation system. While reading is an essential skill, I do not believe it needs to be taught from the very beginning, as it puts too much attention on the page and not enough on the keyboard. I prefer to have a period of time in the beginning where the students are focused on familiarizing themselves with the keyboard and the physical motions required to produce a beautiful sound.

In the "Piano Safari" method, students learn technique, rhythm, and improvisation from the beginning, while playing aurally satisfying music by rote from the first lesson. You can order the "Piano Safari" book here. I have a studio copy, and can provide photo-copies for the first couple of lessons, but please order your own copy as soon as possible.

For older beginners and more intermediate or advanced students, I am not attached to any set of books in particular. I can be flexible and teach out of the books they have already been learning on. It is important for me to note that I do not teach straight from any book in particular, but draw on the vast set of repertoire and exercises that are available for the piano. In this way, I can tailor my teaching to the needs and interests of each student.

I work with students as young as age five, though can teach even younger students if there is parental commitment. For very young students (about 5-8), I recommend two weekly lessons of 30 minutes each. Beginning in 4th grade, lesson times increase to 45-minutes, and in 7th grade again increase to 60 minutes, I understand that most students will opt for one lesson per week. There are many elements that go in to making a well rounded musician, and the more time the student has with the teacher, the better!